Knus Café-Pavilion, Delft

The emphasis in the design is on the accentuation of the holiday mood and the picturesque surroundings by employing architecture that is atypical of Holland. The plan is a cross between an American prairie bungalow and a Norwegian chalet. The wooden structure, which seems to rise up from the earth, stands alongside the elongated inlet that connects with the Delftse Hout lake. The ground-plan is composed of a square and a cross that interlock diagonally, resulting in an octagonal middle section. Four of its corners are extended with rectangular chambers: two of these are meant to cater for large parties in a private alcove. The entrance and the kitchen, which are connected with the bar, are situated in the two other corners. In the open void above the bar there is a playspace for children. The boathouse is a wing-like extension. Ground-floor verandas fill the outdoor space between the four extended corners.

The building’s structure consists of adhesive-bonded timber trusses on which the pyramid-shaped wooden roof structure rests, culminating in a transparent glazed apex. Windows in the façade and the roof offer a phenomenal view of the lush, park-like nature. A band of fenestration separates the elevations from the roof, allowing natural light to enter and lending the interior a sense of space. The windows in the weather-boarded façade on the ground floor can be secured with shutters, the verandas with sliding barriers. A striking feature is the highly distinctive roof, which is covered with large panels of slate, evoking a fairy-like atmosphere, Hansel and Gretel bearing in mind.